Game Thread: Indians at Reds - 2008.05.18
A win today would give the Reds a 3 game sweep of in-state rival Cleveland and set them on a 7 game road trip with 6 wins in a row under their belt. In order for that to happen, the Reds will have to defeat 6-0 Cliff Lee and his sub 1.00 ERA. The Reds will counter with 6-1 Edinson Volquez.
This is the 3rd time in history that the ERA leaders from both leagues have met. Who will come out on top? Discuss it here…
May 18th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
What are the other two times that the ERA leaders have faced off in interleague play?
May 18th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Valentin at first instead of Votto. I really don’t like that.
Reds:
Freel
Janish
Jr
Phillips
EdE
Dunn
Catcher #1 (Ross)
Catcher #2 (Valentin)
Volquez
May 18th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Ah, found it:
In ‘98, The Fat Toad gave up 4 runs in 5.2 IP, and the future Reds’ Playoff Hopes Dasher gave up 5 runs in 6.1 IP.
Then in ‘02, The Adulterer gave up 1 run in 7 IP to run his record to 11-2, and Mr. Outside Corner allowed 5 runs in 5 IP to fall to 10-3.
May 18th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I just heard it on ESPN NEWS. Wasn’t sure of when it happened. Nice find DA.
May 18th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
So is Hafner injured, or does he just have a bad case of the Pattersons and they don’t want to run him out there against the Reds juggernaut? He’s not in the lineup again today. He did have that pinch-hit homer on Friday, but I think that’s been Pronk’s only appearance.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
The Adulterer! LOL
Don’t like Valentin at first either. Why isn’t Hairston playing? Ride him til he cools off.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
So Joey Votto has to kill the ball to move up in the lineup, but Janish, nowhere near the hitter Votto is, gets to hit second in his first start? Oh yeah, he plays SS and thats where the SS hits.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
…And Griffey is still hitting third despite the fact that Phillips kills lefties and Griffey just sucks right now. Brilliant.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Nice defensive awareness on the part of Janish - gets Voltron out of trouble, anyway.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Nice escape for Voltron … time to put some runs on the board early
May 18th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
The movement that the pitchF/X system is recording on Cliff Lee is incredible. 8″ break and 19″ pf/x on a fastball? That’s good movement on a breaking pitch.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Good AB, Janish!
May 18th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Janish walks.
I’ll say that again a different way: Cliff Lee issues a walk.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
It would appear that Dusty bats his cf first and his ss second, regardless of who they are, going back to his time in chi and sf even
May 18th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
And all that movement works against him there - passed ball, and the Reds have a golden opportunity.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
janish really earned that walk
May 18th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
And Jr continues to struggle
May 18th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Somebody noticed that tendency, Brett, and it’s amazing how consistent it is. No matter who the personnel, Dusty loves that CF-SS 1-2 combo.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
nice AB by Phillips
May 18th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Given the 3-0 count, I don’t like Phillips being given the greenlight there. Let him keep working into trouble! But whatever, it’s a 1-0 lead and that’s not to be discounted against a guy who has been as ungodly good as Cliff Lee so far.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
It’s amazing how many of the Brennaman-McCoy conversations focus on plane rides, and travel inconveniences, and naptimes.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Voltron working a little hard to shut out the opponent, but nothing much new there. 40 pitches through 2.
May 18th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Ouch … not a good bit of base running there
May 18th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Dunn is looking a lot better at the plate lately. Let’s hope he’s starting to heat up… If gets going, it’ll make the Reds lineup MUCH better.
May 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
And Jr is looking Dunnesque
May 18th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Don’t think I’ve ever seen an umpire actually make that call - apparently the ump said that the batter didn’t make an effort to get out of the way, and therfore no HBP.
I’ve seen it called when a batter intentionally moved into the path of the pitch, dipping an elbow guard down, etc.
May 18th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Dusty Dusty Dusty … ya gotta walk Blake there …
May 18th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Boy oh Boy … that Dunn guy sucks
May 18th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Yep - looks like Chad’s right, Dunn’s heating up. “This ball is kerr-usshed!” says Brantley.
May 18th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Wow, if Volquez didnt walk batters as often as he does, they wouldnt have any chance.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Time for Griffey to bust out of it…and he does!
May 18th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Wow, a two out RBI … Im in shock
May 18th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Phillips single, and the hits keep on comin’. 4-1.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Even given that the first-inning run was unearned due to the passed ball, Lee’s ERA is now over 1. One more and it’ll be doubled from what it was at the start of the game.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I really dislike that short porch in right …
May 18th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
111 pitches through 6 innings for Voltron.
Blake makes the last out of the 5th in the 8-spot, so Lee may have gotten a chance to pitch another inning.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
And while Joey Votto goes up to pinch hit Tom lets us know that he has been more productive against left handers than right handers…..Holy crap and he crushes a homer!!!
May 18th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Booyah!
May 18th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Votto! Reds score 6 off of Lee (who had given up only 5 runs TOTAL up ’til now).
May 18th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Love it. Go Joey. And Cliff Lee’s day just became the worst start he’s had all year.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I dont care how hot Berkamn is … Votto is getting my allstar vote
May 18th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Lee’s ERA jumps, and Voltron will end the day as the major-league leader in ERA.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I’ve really enjoyed watching these Reds on the homestand. I hope they continue to play this well from here on out… Good pitching, some nice hitting…they are now doing what I thought (hoped) they would from the beginning. That said, the bullpen has to hold the lead today yet.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
That was weird … Freel grounds out during a commercial
May 18th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
not a good start for Affeldt
May 18th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Good grief … get the pen hot Dusty
May 18th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Ugh. Affeldt doing his best to keep the Reds from winning. 3 straight hits.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Good news: No more Affeldt. Bad news, no outs and runners on the corner.
We need a K and a double play from Burton (in that order preferably).
May 18th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Put Josh Fogg in! Everyone else has had their troubles over the past couple weeks, but not him.
(nevermind that he hasn’t actually pitched in a couple weeks.)
Dick Pole makes the pitching change? Wuzza?
May 18th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Gotta love that K
May 18th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
There’s the K. Now we need the double play!
May 18th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Nice backup slider for the K.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Another little hit… 2 run game now.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Geesh … only one really well struck ball in the inning and they have 2 runs to show fo it
May 18th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
EE with the barehanded play!
May 18th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Janish: Keppinger 2.0
May 18th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Cliff Lee ERA: 1.37
Edinson Volquez ERA: 1.33
May 18th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Junior is looking terrible at the plate lately. He should start bunting for hits…and stop swinging for the fences.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
That 600th HR is all he wants right now
May 18th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
He can’t hit three homers on a single pitch. Relax and it’ll happen.
However, last year and this he’s been increasingly vulnerable up above the strikezone.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Dunn guns out Garko at 2nd. 1 out (the hard way).
May 18th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Dunn’s been swift on defense too. Awesome throw.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
:lol:Look at Dunner out there … as bad as he has been so far … ya cant deny he has it going right now
May 18th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
T-minus half inning til Coco time
May 18th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Burton gets it done. Here’s to the last at bat of the homestand for the Reds (I hope).
May 18th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Time for 3 Ks
May 18th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
1 down
May 18th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Grandkids in the radio booth!
May 18th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Woot! 1 to go
May 18th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
1 out remaining…
May 18th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
come on Coco … no baserunners
May 18th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Gotta make it exciting I suppose
May 18th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Cordero walks Hafner on 4 straight pitches to bring up Victor… What’s with Reds’ closers always making it “interesting”?
May 18th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Wow he hung that slider and got away with it
May 18th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Man, neverending at bat… Put him away Coco!
May 18th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
yeah baby!!!
May 18th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
SWEET. Two straight series sweeps.
May 18th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
And this one belongs to the Reds! (First 6 game homestand sweep since 1995)
May 18th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
6 wins in a row against good opponents. Let’s hope this continues.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
It helps that we skipped Matt Belisle’s start
May 18th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
If the Reds can end their west coast woes then I will believe they have turned a corner.
May 18th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
By winning or splitting series now, the Reds are in a good position to move up. Four or five wins on this road trip would look good. Too bad that Bailey is not ready yet to take over the 5th. starter position.